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Sunday, September 29, 2013

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet...a slightly abbreviated edition due to participating with my kids in today's MouseAdventure competition at Disneyland. We had a blast!

...Thanks to my friend Jane for sending along information on the latest UCLA series, Archive Treasures: Remembering Charles Hopkins and Our Man Gregory LaCava. I'm going to be studying the calendar and choosing what to see -- STAGE DOOR (1937) and FIFTH AVENUE GIRL (1939) is a terrific double bill. I saw STAGE DOOR at the New Encore as a kid in the '70s. I'll be sharing more about both series closer to their opening dates in mid-October and early November, respectively.

...Glenn Erickson just reviewed a film which is not only one of my favorite John Wayne films, it's one of my favorite movies, period: ANGEL AND THE BADMAN (1947).

...Most of the late actor Harry Carey Jr.'s official website seems to have been shut down, but the main page has a lovely video tribute to Carey and his longtime friend Ben Johnson. Fans of the actors won't want to miss it.

...The release of GRACE OF MONACO (2014), starring Nicole Kidman, has been delayed from November until next spring.

...Over at the Classic Film and TV Cafe, Rick pays tribute to one of my favorite TV shows, THE HIGH CHAPARRAL. I shared thoughts on the series a year ago. It's currently on cable's Inspiration Network, but the only DVD release so far comes from the Netherlands, of all places. I have the Season 1 set, and it's gorgeous.

...The reviews of the new Olive Filmsrelease, SHACK OUT ON 101 (1955), certainly make it sound appealing. DVD Beaver says it's "all but impossible to dislike," "stylishly directed," and "beautifully shot," while Mike Clark recalls it being just one of a couple films he progammed in the AFI Theater in Washington, D.C. which received a standing ovation. I'd never even heard of this film until a few weeks ago! It stars one of my real favorites, Frank Lovejoy, along with Terry Moore, Lee Marvin, and Keenan Wynn, directed by Edward Dein. With two kids in college I haven't bought many DVDs recently, but this one I ordered right away! Looking forward to reviewing it here soon.

...Congrats to my friend Aurora, who just published her 200th post at her blog Once Upon a Screen. After enjoying getting to know Aurora online in recent years, we had a great time getting to know one another in person and enjoying movies together at this year's TCM Classic Film Festival.

...Will McKinley is someone else I enjoyed movies with at the TCM Fest! Over at Cinematically Insane, Will shares his impressions of seeing THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939) in 3-D and sharing the experience with his young nieces.

...Someone else I really enjoyed getting to know at the TCM Festival was Raquel of Out of the Past. She shares ideas on how to fit in more reading on classic films.

...If you missed Friday's post, here's all the info on the dates, theme, and pricing for next year's TCM Festival! As you might guess from the above comments, I certainly hope to be there again next year!

...Big news early this morning in Southern California was Pat Haden suddenly firing USC head football coach Lane Kiffin. We're diehard USC football fans, especially as my oldest daughter is an alumni, and we had to turn the game off in the second half last night. As the interceptions mounted it was just too painful to watch.

...Meanwhile the football team at my youngest daughter's new school, the University of Oregon, is having no such problems! No. 2 ranked Oregon beat the Cal Bears last night, 55-16. Our daughter is having a great time in the marching band!

...Actress Marta Heflin, the niece of Oscar-winning actor Van Heflin and longtime ALL MY CHILDREN actress Frances Heflin, has passed away at 68. Her credits included Robert Altman's A WEDDING (1978) and COME BACK TO THE FIVE AND DIME, JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN (1982).

2 Comments:

Thanks so much for the shout out, Laura! Cannot wait to spend time with you and our beloved movies again in 2014. But we've a lot to enjoy until then on your fabulous blog and other places we share commentary. To get even a mention on your blog is supreme fabulousness.